Recent Comments:
Gas prices rise along with interest in motorcycles {Autoblog}
Jul 1st 2008 6:15PM Personally, I think far too many people approach motorcycle ownership from the "how long will it take to pay for itself" viewpoint. Just remember that from that viewpoint, a hybrid vehicle takes decades to pay itself off (unless your previous ride gets gas mileage of the single-digit variety); and many other vehicles never will.
Personally, I welcome the idea of more motorcycle riders on the road. The biggest safety risk for a (motor)cyclist is other distracted drivers. As people see them more often, they (theoretically) get in the habit of noticing them, which will in turn make motorcycling safer. A couple of other big benefits are the fact that parking lots will be less crowded, and the size (maybe even the frequency) of traffic jams will decrease. But then again, perhaps my thinking is a little too optimistic.
Netgear's WGR614L Wireless-G router openly plays nice with Tomato / DD-WRT {Engadget}
Jun 30th 2008 11:00PM "Netgear's router openly plays nice with Tomato"
Does that mean my router will get salmonella?
Transformers: Corvette concept, Bumblebee Z28 in the buff {Autoblog}
Jun 22nd 2008 1:42PM I was thinking the same thing. I like the way it looks, reminds me a bit of the 80's era corvette stingray (one of my favorites). And then I noticed the headlight placement and it just seems a little awkward. I'm not really sure where they could be relocated to though; heaven forbid we go back to the flip-up design.
Silicon wafer directs and filters out cancer cells {Engadget}
Jun 9th 2008 12:52AM @ppk,
I suppose I wasn't very clear in my assessment and explanation. I got more caught up in getting it all typed out that I didn't proofread for clarity or make any significant revisions. Your comment did clarify some of my comment's shortcomings, and I thank you for that.
What I was trying to say really is that, as I read it, this chip claims to do 2 things; 1: identify cancer cells, and 2: physically separate them from normal cells.
As I understand it, there are a few ways to identify cancerous cells. Typically the easiest way is to look at a cell's morphology (physical characteristics). I did indeed confuse Flow cytometry with FACS, but in my (admittedly limited) experience, the two are often used in conjunction. More info here. This same process can also, as you stated, can physically separate the cells. However, I have difficulty imagining this happening on a piece of silicon.
My use of the term "chromatography" was also off. It was an attempt to simplify things that ended up convoluting them instead. What I was trying to describe was a hypothetical epitope-affinity column. My MACS example was relevant to cell sorting, but not chromatography per se. However, after reading the free portion of the linked article, chromatography (size-based) is prettymuch what they're doing. It's far from accurate, and even further from a cure.
So yeah, I was wrong or at least unclear on a few points, but I stand by my summary.
Silicon wafer directs and filters out cancer cells {Engadget}
Jun 8th 2008 11:30AM This sounds a little like they've combined FACS and chromatography. To save you the trouble of reading all of those links, here's a basic idea of how it works: FACS puts the cells in a suspension and shines a light at them. there's sensors that detect how much of that light is scattered, and how much gets through. The more light that passes through uninterrupted, the smaller the cell. More light scattered means the cell is more complex (both in shape and internally - macrophages for instance). It's far from a foolproof method, but it works well enough for most purposes. Note that this only works as an identifier and doesn't physically separate the cells.
Chromatography is the separation step. However, in order to separate them you need to have some physical difference between the cells. If there's a significant size difference, then that's simple enough, but size differences alone usually won't cut it. What we do then is to use labeled antibodies. Antibodies are extremely specific for certain markers on cells (among other things, depending on the antibody). Basically, they find a certain feature on the cell and stick to it. Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins, with the top parts of the Y being the sticky ones. The stem of it can have something else attached. To do a physical separation, you attach some magnetic metal ions to the stem. This allows you to use a magnet to separate out the cells that have the antibody stuck to them, while other cells will simply pass through.
The difficulty is that cancer cells have nearly identical markers to normal cells. There's a lot of cell biologists and biochemists out there trying to elucidate the differences and designing antibodies that will hit cancer cells but not normal ones. The other problem is that there's a lot of different kinds of cancer, even within the same tissues, which means we more or less have to reinvent an antibody for each type. Add to it that the above method only works with cells in a solution (no tumors or tissue cancers), and you see the problem. For lymph, CSF, and blood, this may work well enough, but it's not a silver bullet.
So this is where the next generation of pharmaceuticals comes in. Instead of attaching a metal ion to separate some cells from others, you simply attach your extra-toxic drug to the stem of the antibody. Since the drug won't stay anywhere long until it attaches, you can use drugs that would normally be too toxic otherwise. Your antibodies will just flow along in your bloodstream until they find the cancer. Once they find it, they'll stick to it, and your drug starts to do its job. The cancer gets hit and the rest of your body is unaffected.
Summary: This chip sounds similar to equipment and techniques that scientists are already using in the laboratory; it's just smaller. A chip like this will potentially be useful for research purposes, but it's not a cure.
Also, sorry for the extra-long rant.
That's a Solstice? Breckland unveils Kappa-based Beira V8 {Autoblog}
Jun 2nd 2008 10:52PM @Ford Wannup
If that was the intent in nolan's post, then I'll admit that my reply was too much of an over-the-top knee-jerk reaction. Personally, I'm a fan of the solstice, and plan on buying one after I finish my degree (in December, the hard top version will be out by then). Yes, I am well aware that the solstice has a trunk (boot) that borderlines on being useless. No, it will not stop me from buying one. Frankly, I think the Biera is a beautiful car that helps to demonstrate the versatility and unrealized potential of the kappa platform.
If you look at the Biera and your first thought is, "the trunk is too small," then this really isn't the car for you. Go look at some mini vans. It's the equivalent of turning down a chance at sex with a supermodel because you think her toes are a little too long.
If you're waiting for a perfect car that lacks any discernible shortcoming, then you'll wait forever. Even if one was available, some here would complain because everybody and their grandma would be driving one, and the complainer would want something unique. Is liking a car despite its shortcomings really too much to ask?
I guess I'm just a little tired of people who think their replies are insightful when all they do is to point out a vehicle's shortcomings. Name any car and I can name one that gets better gas mileage, or can haul more, or can accelerate faster etc... But really, who cares? None of that type of comment really constitutes a meaningful contribution to the discussion.
Okay, I'm done ranting now.
That's a Solstice? Breckland unveils Kappa-based Beira V8 {Autoblog}
Jun 2nd 2008 6:01PM Probably not. And in my opinion, that's probably a good thing.
As soon as you start requesting that a car do a dozen other things it wasn't originally meant to do, (haul a boat, seat a soccer team, carry 6 shopping carts worth of groceries, fly, go 0-60 in 3 seconds, lap the nurburgring in 5 minutes, get 150 mpg and cost $0.42) then you bland the whole thing up.
Seriously; just let it be a sports car. 2 doors and 2 seats are just right. I won't use a swiss army knife to eat my breakfast, and I won't use a camcordaminabu to go around the track.
ProteinDS app enables DJ-style scratching on Nintendo's DS {Engadget}
May 23rd 2008 1:43PM Don't forget that the DS has a built in microphone. I have no idea if the above software uses it or not, but the potential to sample on the fly would be pretty cool.
Ford holds Taurus SHO focus group in Chicago... what does it mean??? {Autoblog}
May 7th 2008 2:01PM Well, at least they picked a reasonable focus group; people who have actual understanding of the product and its heritage. It seems these days the people they ask for input on all their cars are usually soccer moms and tweenies.
My vote goes to AWD turbo 6, a bare minimum of electronic nannies, and only manual transmissions.
More developments on Nissan's compact, RWD coupe {Autoblog}
May 5th 2008 1:06PM Two words: Manual transmission.
If it won't have one, don't bother bringing it over; I'm not interested. And while you're at it, make it fun to drive. No more bland, unimaginative, neutered by a committee cars please.
